The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. —John 10:10
The Divine Order of J.O.Y
Jesus
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. —Matthew 6:33 NLT
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. —Colossians 3:1-4 NLT
- Life-changing joy is inside out
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. —Galatians 5:22-23
- Life-changing joy is beyond circumstances
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. —Psalm 19:8
Others
And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” —Acts 20:35 NLT
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” —Philippians 2:3-4 NLT
- Life-changing joy is experienced with others.
Yourself
Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. —1 Peter 5:7 NLT
“Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” —Mark 9:35 NLT
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. —Isaiah 9:2-3
- I don’t have to put myself first because Jesus has already done that!
Discipleship Guide
Let’s Connect
- Share a highlight from your week so far.
Let’s Talk About It
How do you rebuild your life after a storm? How do you build the foundation of your life stronger in hopes for a better future? While storms are never easy or enjoyable, they reveal the strength of our foundation. Jesus offers us wisdom and direction as to how we can build a life that is anchored in Him and able to thrive when weathered by the storms of life. God can take a difficult season and use it to help you build a better future with your life anchored in God.
Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:1-4; Galatians 5:22-23; Psalm 19:8; Acts 20:35; Philippians 2:3-4; 1Peter 5:7; Mark 9:35; Isaiah 9:2-7
- Which part of the message made an impact, caught your attention or challenged you?
- Read the main scriptures used in this message. What does this tell you about God? How does this apply to your life now?
Take a Step
- Identify one thing you learned from this message that you can put into practice this week.
SOAP reading:
- Day 1: Isaiah 46-49, 1 Peter 5
- Day 2: Isaiah 50-52, Psalms 92, 2 Peter 1
- Day 3: Isaiah 53-56, 2 Peter 2
- Day 4: Isaiah 57-59, Psalms 103, 2 Peter 3
- Day 5: Isaiah 60-62, John 1
- Day 6: Isaiah 63,64, Psalms 107, John 2
- Day 7: Isaiah 65-66, Psalms 62, John 3
Here’s My Prayer
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you in a greater way and for Him to work through your life to touch someone today with God’s presence.